Security tight as G7 diplomats gather

Foreign ministers of the G7 nations were scheduled to focus on the security of both Europe and the so-called Indo-Pacific as they gathered in Japan on Sunday.

They dived right in, with a private working dinner, but even before the talks began, outside events threatened to overshadow the diplomacy, including questions about United States' intelligence leaks that cast doubt over crucial alliances, and security worries after an explosive device detonated near the Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida during a campaign event.

Security is tight in Karuizawa, about 160 kilometers northwest of Tokyo. Japan has been forced to address safety concerns after the explosive device was thrown toward Kishida on the eve of the diplomats' arrival.

A police officer was slightly hurt, but the chaotic scene was reminiscent of the assassination nine months ago of former prime minister Shinzo Abe, which also came on a campaign tour and continues to reverberate in Japanese politics.

Kishida was visiting Saikazaki port in Wakayama prefecture to support his ruling party's candidate in a local election, and the explosion occurred just before he was to begin his speech.

A young man believed to be the suspect was arrested at the scene after he allegedly threw "the suspicious object", Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told reporters. Matsuno refused to comment on the suspect's motive and background, saying police were still investigating.

Kishida continued campaigning, but the attack is an unwanted development for Tokyo.

"Starting with the summit, we have to make every effort to ensure security and safety … (as) dignitaries from all over the world gather," Kishida said on Sunday.

Documents impact

The three-day talks will also present the first real test of the assertion of US President Joe Biden's administration that there has been minimal damage from the disclosure of highly classified documents related to the conflict in Ukraine and US views of its allies and partners.

Before traveling to Japan, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Saturday from Hanoi that he had heard no concerns from allies, but the revelations will loom over the G7 meeting, the first major international diplomatic conference since the documents were discovered online and made public.

On the diplomatic front, the talks will be dominated by the conflict in Ukraine, tension across the Taiwan Strait and the Korean Peninsula issue, according to media outlets.

Japan is eager to use a smoothly run G7, which includes a host of gatherings on climate, finance and other issues before a leaders' summit in Hiroshima next month to pursue a stronger unified front against what Tokyo and its Western allies call threats, The Associated Press reported.

Energy and environment ministers of G7 vowed on Sunday to work to hasten the shift toward cleaner, renewable energy but set no timetable for phasing out coal-fired power plants. The officials issued a 36-page communique laying out their commitments.

Germany's Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection Steffi Lemke on Sunday slammed the expression that Japan's release of treated nuclear-tainted water into the ocean was "welcomed" when attending a news conference after the two-day G7 ministers' meeting on climate.

As for the foreign ministers' meeting, many will be watching to see what, if anything, G7 ministers from Japan, the US, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Canada, Italy and the European Union may do.

Some observers expect that G7 nations will take the chance to announce an increase in aid to Ukraine.

Though diplomats from Beijing will not be present in Japan, China also plays a large part in discussions.

On Friday, China's State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang told the visiting German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock in Beijing that the only way to find a solution to the Ukraine conflict is to promote peace talks, reiterating China's consistent willingness to help find a peaceful resolution, and adding that China will never do anything to add fuel to the fire.

As Baerbock expressed concerns on the Taiwan question, Qin said the fundamental cause of tension in the Taiwan Strait lies in separatist activities by "Taiwan independence" forces and external forces that support them.

Japan has made a major break from its self-defense-only post-World War II principles as it works to acquire preemptive strike capabilities and cruise missiles.

Western diplomats will also discuss the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

The DPRK has test-fired many missiles recently, and has accused the US and the Republic of Korea of escalating tension to the brink of nuclear war through their joint military drills involving US strategic assets, calling them a rehearsal for invasion.

US and ROK forces have been conducting a series of annual springtime exercises since last month, including air and sea drills involving a US aircraft carrier and B-1B and B-52 bombers, and their first large-scale amphibious landing drills in five years.

Agencies and Xinhua contributed to this story.